Fracture (Unbreakable Bonds 6)

“I don’t want to smell your breath. As far as I know, you haven’t lied to me before, so I’d hate to think you’re starting now.”

Jordan’s lips tightened. “All my friends have cars, Jude.”

“I happen to know that’s not true. Brian doesn’t have one. You just turned sixteen! It hasn’t been that long since I was sixteen—”

“It’s been forever.” An engine revved as it came up the street.

He couldn’t help but smile at that as he watched a car pass their driveway. Other than that, the night was quiet with only the sounds of the occasional birdcall. They’d all grown up on this peaceful street, and it hadn’t changed much. “Thirteen years may seem like forever to you, but it feels like I was sixteen yesterday. I didn’t have a car then either.”

“Bullshit. I remember Uncle Craig gave you a car.”

“The one I’m driving now? Yeah, it was Craig’s, but he didn’t give it to me. I bought it. And I was almost eighteen. We couldn’t afford the expense of another car then any more than we can now.”

“Your friend Shane had a car.”

Jude rolled his eyes. “Shane borrowed his father’s car.”

“And we don’t have a damn father—”

“Really?” Anger made Jude take another step closer to Jordan. “You’re going to pull that card right now? Do you know how hard our mother works to take care of us? Do you?”

Jordan’s face fell. He lowered his head, throwing his features into shadow.

“That car is her only way to work. What if you’d wrecked it, Jordan?”

“I was really careful, and I got my license.”

“Do you feel that excuses you taking the car without permission?”

He shuffled his sneakers on the pavement. “I just really wanted to go to the party and couldn’t find a ride.”

Thirteen years might have passed, but Jude could remember what it was like to be his brother’s age and excited for a party. He wrapped his arms around his brother. “You’ll be grounded, but you deserve it.”

“I know,” Jordan mumbled into his neck. “It was still worth it.”

“Let me guess. There’s a girl.”

“Of course there’s a girl.” Jordan pulled back and grinned at him. “I’m not like you. I don’t go for the dick.”

Jude smacked his head lightly. “Watch your mouth.”

“What? I’m just saying I like girls.”

“We all know how much you like them.” He slung his arm around his brother’s shoulders to walk him to the house and their very angry mother. “Tell me about this girl while you can still talk.”

Jude looked at his brother now, four years older and still seeming as young as he had then. But outside of a few mishaps, he’d been a great kid. He’d never gotten involved with any gangs when several of his friends had, and he’d worked part-time for their uncle Gary as soon as he was old enough. He’d always wanted to work in construction.

“You have what you wanted. An apartment and a job—what happened?” Silence met his question.

He brushed the back of his hand lightly over Jordan’s cheek.

“I’m trying to find out who did this to you. Went to my friend, Rowe, for help. If anyone can dig for answers, it’s him. I promise I’ll get justice for what they’ve done to you. If you needed help, why didn’t you come to me?”

But Jordan had no answers for him, and frustration beat at Jude’s mind. It didn’t ease during the two hours he spent next to his bed. When he finally left, all he could think about was who had done this to Jordan.Snow woke sometime in the middle of the night. The heater kicked on and he turned toward Jude to find his side of the bed empty. He blinked at the clock beside the bed and saw it was after three in the morning. His worry for Jude had kept him from falling asleep until close to midnight, but Jude had still been there. He knew what they’d seen had to be eating Jude from the inside out. His concern sent him from the bed. Still naked from his earlier shower, Snow grabbed a pair of pajama pants and quickly slid them on.

He padded downstairs just as Jude walked through the front door.

“Did you go to the hospital?” Snow took in his drawn features and slumped shoulders.

“Yeah. There’s no change.” Jude pulled off his coat and hung it in the closet next to the front door. He unwound his scarf from his neck and draped it over a hanger. He wore jeans and a thick black sweater that matched his hair, eyes, and close beard. “I finally talked my mana into going home. She was there when I arrived.”

“Good. She needs the sleep. You’ve got to get some, too. You start work soon.”

“I know.” He scrubbed his hands over his face. “I just keep seeing that video. I can’t get it out of my head, and it’s killing me. Any word from Rowe?”